Just finished a rail ripper - Scratch built on LGB wheels .Based on features from a Russian protoype .
The prototype was basically a way of destroying track to deny access to the enemy - the weight of the arm pulled it down to a limit position ,just below the sleeper level ,and as it was towed along it ripped the sleepers apart. The function of the unit meant suspension was not a viable proposition and it required a fair amount of tractive effort to operate properly.
Dave this isnt military…its just a simple Russian staple remover.
I’m on your side guys, let’s get somebody else’s track!![}:)]
The more I look at that the more I’m convinced in practice it would only act as an enormous and very effective emergency brake in case of a runaway. Perhaps thats why I’ve never come across it before …another “Triumphic Idea of the Soviet State” looks good on paper, in practice its a lead balloon!
the german army also used the same type of equipment to do the same thing.[2c]
Vic;
Didn’t you just use one of those? or did you use the 0-5-0 version?
Hope Flatbottoms replacements do get any ideas![}:)]
Well Dave, does it work? Maybe you can sell them to Clubs for when they want to drub out an errant member[;)]
Sadly not in model form - my little porter would struggle a bit just pulling it in up position . Apparantly the prototype did - very well . Next project is the armoured locomotive .
Lets not forget the germans resorted to bolting a chain to one rail and attaching it to the loco to pull up track.Wounder how often that backfired and just derailed the locomotive?
What you have constructed is called a “Scarifier”. The germans during WWII used a version of this that had wheels that did not ride on the track, but, rode on the ballast ouside of the rails and was pulled by multiple engines. Shown below is a pic of what you have modeled.
Dale
Thanks Dale - I searched for ages for a picture of one in operation and couldnt find it . I do beleive the russians used them extensively during the German invasion of WW2 when they adopted a scortched earth policy and retreated east. Could you tell me the link for the picture please?
Dave
Here is the link, but the pic is the same size as the one in my post.
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?6,872828
Dale
thankyou kindly Dale - interesting information and much appreciated
Dave; I really love the job you’re doing on this armored project. It looks wonderful. I’ve been working on a much more “freelance” armored train myself, probably more whimsical than yours! Are you patterning the engine armor on any specific prototype? Is it the Porter that you’re armoring? Chris
very creative effort on something I’ve never before seen modeled. Maybe rip up some ties on the end of a spur to add effects?
That looks really good. I can’t wait to see the armored locomotive![tup]
The armoured loco will be based on a polish prototype - not sure if it will be this one
http://derela.republika.pl/377-402.jpg
or maybe http://derela.republika.pl/ti3marsh.jpg
probably using a motorised truck rather than an actual loco chassis as very little of the drivers are visible
thankyou to everyone for the interest and kind words
Wonderful! My two favorite Armored Locos! I have 1/25 scale paper model kits of both locos (and trains) that I hope to build someday when I have a year with nothing to do! I’m doing the same thing on my loco, using just motor blocks instead of complete chassis. Best of luck on your loco, I really look forward to seeing it! Chris
Of the 2, I would go for this
http://derela.republika.pl/ti3marsh.jpg
Or the Germie version
http://www.ztrains.com/pages/closeup/panzer/main_br57.jpg
theirs a Soviet version thats almost a direct copy of the German version but I cant find a pic
Just watched the tie ripper being used on a 10 second clip in World at War, invasion of Italy. The retreating German army destroying everything and that ripper does a good job. It looked like a narrow guage line?? - did they make one for ng?
Kim
